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WASHING, DRYING AND MAINTAINING.

Curious about how GORE-TEX fabrics and apparel are engineered? Wondering about their durability and performance, or how they are cared for and maintained? You'll find all this information and more right here.

The Guarnteed to Keep You Dry® Promise

It’s simple: If you are not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness, or breathability of your GORE-TEX product, then we will repair it, replace it, or refund your purchase price. No matter which of our trusted customers makes the product, we have certified that its durably waterproof, windproof and breathable performance meets the needs of its intended use. Fairness is one of the core principals of the GORE Company. Our promise is one that allows for common sense solutions with a focus on product performance and building lasting relationships with our consumers.

Just that: No water from the outside will get to you on the inside. Whether it’s from a driving rain, a damp bench you happen to sit on, or kneeling in wet grass, water can't penetrate GORE-TEX fabric. Yet, the fabric will remain breathable, allowing for moisture from sweat to escape. Factoring in reasonable wear and tear as determined by our team, if your GORE-TEX product is properly cared for and used as intended then you can expect it to remain waterproof, windproof and breathable for its useful life.

No: It applies to waterproofness, windproofness, and breathability for the useful life of the product. It only covers to the original owner of the item, and items that were purchased new.

Due to the wide array of end uses for which our products are designed, we focus on their useful life rather than any fixed periods of time. It really depends on you and the choices you make. Lack of care can often be the cause of a product no longer having useful life, so it’s important to routinely clean your item and always follow the care instructions. Components used in the garment construction, such as glues and other adhesives, will eventually degrade. After all, all products wear out during use and over time.

Use your best judgment, if the product has worn soles, rips, tears, punctures, abrasions, it may be time to repair it or buy a new one. If it looks worn out then it likely is. This can be especially true for footwear, which typically has a shorter useful life than garments. In the case of footwear, the GORE-TEX membrane is protected by the upper part of the shoe. If there are cuts or cracks in the upper material, the membrane’s performance may be impaired by dirt and debris entering the shoe. Internal abrasion from sharp toenails or hard orthotic insoles can also produce holes, causing leaks. If you are unsure give us a call or send us an email and we can help you make a decision.

No: Damage such as rips, tears, excessive abrasions and punctures are the responsibility of the end user to have repaired. Broken buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and other defects related to manufacturing should be addressed at the point of purchase or to the item’s manufacturer. Damage to any item that is returned to Gore must have been repaired so that the item is in a fully functional condition apart from the defect relating to GORE-TEX. Damage can be understood as anything incurred through the product’s use that impairs its intended performance or functionality. Damage to personal electronic devices or any other personal items caused by water entry into pockets/zippers is not covered by the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® Promise. If damage occurs please contact one of our recommended repair centers or contact us directly and one of our helpful consumer service advisors can assist you. GORE-TEX products are an investment in waterproof, windproof, breathable comfort and it’s important to maintain that investment.

No: Part of caring for your product is maintaining the Durable Water Repellent (DWR). GORE- TEX fabrics have an ultra-thin treatment called DWR, a durable water repellent polymer that is applied to the outermost fabric layer. DWR penetrates the fibers and lowers the surface tension of the fabric, causing water to bead up and roll off this outer layer of fabric, instead of being absorbed. DWR is necessary for the product to perform as intended, but it’s not permanent. Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, insect repellent, and other impurities can shorten its lifespan. The good news is that following our care instructions can often solve this problem and when necessary, reapplying DWR is easy. However, an old or heavily worn garment may no longer bead water, even after proper care and a DWR treatment, indicating that the product has reached the end of useful life.

By your initial investment: Gore is committed to the idea of fairness in all of our internal and external dealings. It’s one of our core principals. While the decision to repair, replace or refund is one that is at the discretion of Gore, we will honor an amount equal to the price you paid for the product as indicated by an original proof of purchase. If a product is purchased used, it will not be covered.

In some cases your fastest and simplest source for replacement may be your local retailer. If that doesn’t work for you, we can help. Once it has been established that a replacement is the best option for you, a conversation occurs between you and your GORE-TEX consumer service advisor to identify the best replacement products. We will gather the necessary information to help you make the right selection and ensure the replacement’s fitness for use. We seek to replace most of the items returned with the same product, or a similar one if availability is an issue. The advisor will provide replacement options for you based on what you have shared with us, the prescribed price and the end use.

Yes: If a product comes back to us there are a number of tests that help us identify a failure in waterproofness, windproofness or breathability. All GORE-TEX products must meet strict quality standards before they’re sold. We consistently monitor product performance to drive innovation and development. We are committed to our consumers getting the most out of their GORE-TEX products.

Environmental

Absolutely. Gore® fabrics are safe to wear and environmentally sound. They meet state-of- the-art product safety requirements like Oeko-Tex® Standard 100. This is a global textile safety standard well respected for its science-based approach to textile safety validation.

The implementation of the bluesign® standard in all fabric manufacturing plants of Gore verifies that our products made with ePTFE membranes are harmless to people and environmentally sound.

While no manufacturing operation can be completely free from emissions and environmental impact, the Fabrics Division of W. L. Gore & Associates makes significant efforts to minimize the effect of our manufacturing processes on the environment.

We fulfill a high level of environmental standards in all of our manufacturing plants globally with controls in place that meet or improve upon the local regulatory demands (e.g., air pollution control devices, solvent-free adhesives, manufacturing waste recycling, and waste water treatment). The environmental impacts of our manufacturing processes are regularly assessed and controlled by an Environmental Management System according to ISO 14001. This environmental manufacturing standard was globally implemented in our fabrics manufacturing plants in 2010.

All of our fabric manufacturing sites have passed the bluesign® screening and have implemented the bluesign® standard, which verifies that our manufacturing processes are carefully managed and equipped with the best available environmental controls. bluesign technologies ag has developed an independent and rigorous standard for the safety and environmental performance in making textile products.

GORE-TEX and other GORE® fabrics are an environmentally sound choice because they are manufactured responsibly and their durable performance allows apparel to last longer, reducing the use of natural resources and waste.

While some manufacturers of functional materials focus on only part of the story regarding the environmental profile of their products, we employ a Life Cycle Assessment approach that considers all aspects of our products. This starts with the production of raw materials by our suppliers and includes all elements of manufacturing and transportation. We even consider the impact of the washing and drying performed by the consumer over the lifetime of the garment.

Comparing the relative impact of each phase of a GORE-TEX jacket's life, the largest environmental impact occurs during production and finishing of the component materials that make up a garment. In contrast, washing, drying, and retreating during the useful life and disposal incurs a smaller environmental impact.

Yes. Routine care and maintenance, like washing, will ensure the highest performance from a jacket and extend its useful lifespan. Investing in a long-lasting garment and maintaining it properly not only saves on the environmental footprint but also saves on your direct costs.

GORE-TEX fabrics have a highly durable stain and water repellency treatment (DWR) that can be easily and repeatedly restored by tumble-drying and/or ironing. In this way, consumers can maintain the performance of their garment and save significantly on the cost and use of repellency restorative treatments. However, if after years or use, washing and drying no longer prove effective, GORE-TEX garments and footwear may benefit from a DWR restorative treatment. Professional reproofing or spraying of a re-treatment product (according to manufacturer's instructions) can be an efficient way to do so. This also minimizes the release of treatment agents into the environment.

In the event of a tear or hole in the fabric of a garment, wearers can have the garments mended professionally by one of our authorized Gore Repair Centers.

Learn more about care and maintenance of GORE® fabrics in our Care section.

Gore has developed a technology for high value recycling of its laminates.

Together with some committed customers, in 1993 Gore was the first in the apparel industry to offer high level post-consumer recycling for outerwear. This recycling program for specially designed garments, named GORE™ BALANCE PROJECT™, received the 1995 European Outdoor Award for Innovation. We quickly learned, however, that consumers were not as willing to return these garments for recycling even after years of use, thus the program was stopped.

Our Life Cycle Assessement studies confirm that recycling of a functional outerwear jacket has a negligible impact on the environment and therefore we focus our efforts where it really matters: in the development, manufacturing and distribution of our products.

Garments or footwear made from GORE® fabrics can be safely disposed of just like any other apparel product.

Contrary to most other plastics, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) - the raw material of our membrane - is not made or processed using plasticizers or stabilizers. It doesn't contain residuals like heavy metals, organotin compounds or phthalates. If disposed of in a landfill, PTFE will not degrade, so it will not contribute to the formation of greenhouse gases (i.e., methane) or release substances into the water or air. In an incineration plant, PTFE is safely converted to carbon dioxide and fluorspar. Potentially harmful gases are captured by pollution control devices (alkaline scrubbers) that have been in place for a number of decades.

Finding ways to extend the useful life of a product has always been the environmentally preferred option over product disposal. One might wish to consider donating footwear or garments to charities or repurposing the product for other applications.